Bottle washing, rinsing, and sterilizing apparatus



July 31, 1928.

J. W. LADD ET AL BOTTLE WASHING, RINSING, AND STERILIZING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1927 %Y .w v E mi A. 2 M

July 31, 1928. 1,678,780

, J. w. LADD ET AL BOTTLE WASHING, RINSING, AND STERILIZING APPARATUSFiled March 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ullln A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 31, 1928. v

JOHN W. LADD AND CARL 0. JORDAN, OF

nnrnorr, MICHIGAN, nssrcnons r Jorm w.

LADD COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN- BOTTLEWASHING, BIN SING, AND STERILIZING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 18, 1927. Serial No. 176,316

This invention relates to bottle washing, rinsing andstcrilizingmaclnnes, the ob ect being to provide, a simple andcomparatlvely inexpensive apparatus into which a case of bottle caseover bottles may be introduced over a washing header wherein it isautomatically washed through injection of a washing solution into andabout the bottles and then is positioned over a rinsing and sterilizingheader in which the bottles are first subjected to a bath of hot waterautomatically followed by a steam sterilizing bath.

A feature of the lnvention is in providing means whereby theintroduction of a the washing header and its subsequent positioning overthe rinsing and sterilizing headerprovides first a certain amountof-water for the rinsing operation and then by introduction ofsterilizing header automatically causes the discharge of said water instreams into and about the bottles by means of steam which, as the water(which is comparatively small in quantity) becomes discharged, isdischarged through the header sterilizing the bottles.

A further object of the invention is to provide the washing andsterilizing headers at opposite ends of a washing solution tank which isprovided .with a hinged cover forming a table between the headers onwhich the bottle cases may be supported and passed into hoods over theheaders as is more fully described.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter stated in which the washing solution tank is entirely separatefrom the rinsing and sterilizing header and tank' provided therefor inwhich clear water is used for the rinsing operation.

A further feature of this invention resides in the provision of thesterilizing header in a tank, an ejector below the tank and in. a

valve controlled steam line with the outlet of the tank to the ejectorbeing valve controlled and the said tank being provided with an overflowso that only a limited amount of water may be provided therein and forcontrolling automaticallythe steam line and valve of the said outlet byplacing a bottle case in or removing it from position over the headers.a 1

These and other objects and various novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully-described and claimed, and the preferred form ofconstruction ofa bottle the case over the I hereinafter.

washing, rinsing and sterilizing apparatus embodying our invention isshown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevationpartly in section showing our improved bottle washing apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.thereof partly broken away and with the hoods overthe headers removed.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken through the outlet from the rinsingand sterilizing tank and the injector into which it discharges. V j

The apparatus and its mode of operation will be understood more clearlyfrom Fig. 1 in which 1 indicates a framework of the usual angle ironform in the central portion of which is mounted a tank 2 for washingsolution, the upper open en of which is provided with a hinged cover 3.The opposite ends of the tank are provided with the rectangular frames4.- and 5 respectively and the side bars of these frames have bracemembers 6 and 7 respectively supporting the outer ends thereof while theinner ends of Figs. 1 and 2 at 11 and 12 at the right side of the saidfigures.

} As will be understood from Fig. 1 a hood is provided preferably ofsheet metal over 'each of these tracks indicated at 13 and 14respectively. These hoods are open on the inner ends adjacent thewashing solution tank. Beneath the hood 13 is a sheet metal receptacle15 and in this receptacle is a header 16 provided with a series ofapertures or "nozzles 17 as will be understood from Fig. 2

through which wash water maybe dis-' charged to bottles in a casepositioned on the said tracks 9 and 10. These apertures or nozzles 17are distributed to correspond to the arrangement of bottles in the casesto inject water directly into the bottle and, also are'provided withseveral aperturesout of registration with the bottles to cause washingsolution to be discharged over the outer surface of the bottles. Thiswash water is supplied to the header by-mean's of a contrifugal pump 18driven bya motor 19. This pump receives its supply from the line 20which leads into the center of the pump as indicatedat the left of theFig.1 and re-v ceives its supply from the tank 2, the opening to thetank 20 being provided with a fine screen 21 preferably of a cylindricalform the purpose of which is to prevent material washed from the bottlesfrom being discharged into the header where it would tend to clog thenozzles. For this purpose also there is provided a for-aminous partition22 near the left end of the said washing solution tank 2 and into whichportion of the tank the receptacle 15 beneath the header discharges.This foraminous partition to a large extent will prevent passage ofmaterial -not in solution to the outlet of the tank where the finescreen will prevent passage of finer particles of matter to the pump andheader 16.

On therightside of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided asheet metal receptacle 23 and in this receptacle there is an overflowtube 24 of certain height permit-' ting water to overflow from the tankwhen filled to that height, the tube 24 being open at the lower endthrough the bottom of the tank 23. In this tank is positioned asterilizing or steaming header 25 which isconnected, by means of a pipe26 extending down through the tube 24, to the steam supply line 27. Thistank is also provided with an outlet line 28 in which outlet is acontrol .valve 29. As shown more clearly inFig. .3, this line '28extends from the valve 29 to a steam ejector in the steam line indicatedpurpose of this line 33 is to discharge cold generally at 80. This steamejector is of the usual form having at the point of connection of thesteam line therewith a jet 31 discharging'into the open end of a venturi32'. We also provide a water line 33, connected with a suitable sourceof supply, Which leads into the discharge line 28 for the tank andthrough which cold water continuously flows during operation of themachine. .The

water into the injector and to keep the same cool so that upon passageof steam thereinto the condensation of steamwill cause a Vacuum and thusdraw water from. the tank 23 and discharge the same thnough the venturi32 into the line. 26 and header 25. This water will continue to flowfrom the tank with the steam while the valve 29 is open and thus hotwater will be discharged into the bottles to rinse the same but,-on 'theclosing ofthe valve 29, the flow of water is stoppedand if the steamline is opened at this time, the rinsing water will be followed by aflow of steam through the-jets which sterilizesthe bottles.

In order that the washing, rinsing .and sterilizing steps may beperformed ,In the necessary, sequence andwithout necessity of' manualoperation of the variousv'alves, we have provided means forautomatically controlling the washing, rinsing and sterilizingoperations through introduction and removal of bottle cases in therespective hoods.

This sequence of operation is as follows- A case of bottles to be washedis moved from the table or hinged cover 3 into the hood 13 over thewashing header 16 which is directly supplied by the pump. On movingthecase into position shown in Fig. 1 the a handle 42 at one end .forits operation and at its opposite end a bar 43 extending across the backof the machine to the stem 44 of the valve indicated at 29. Thismovement causes the valve 29 to close and it remains closed untilit isopened by the operator grasping the handle 42 and moving the same to theright of Fig. 2.to eject the bottle case 45 from position in the hood13. This case then is moved across the top of the washing solution tank2 and into the hood14 above the steam header 25. It is first to be notedthat on the ejecting of the bottle case 45 from the hood 13 by means ofthe lever 41 the valve 29 is opened and water flowing in the line 33passes down in around the injector 3O cooling the same irrespective ofwhether the water in the tank 25 is warm or cold. This water rises inthe header line 26 to the level of the Water in the tank 23. On

movement of this case of washed bottles into the hood 14 and Over thesterilizing header, the case, by means of the ejector arm 46 and 'due'to its connection with the lever 47 moves the said lever to the right.This lever is pivoted at 48 to a stationary part of the framework and isprovided with a handle 49 at one end and at the opposite end thereof isa lever 50 pivoted at one end to the. ejector lever- 47 and at the otherend pivoted to a bracket'51' supported by the steam valve 52. This lever50 beyond its pivot "has an arm 53 engaging the end of the valve stem 54causing the steam valve to open. This is the usual spring seated valvesometimes termed a whistle valve and is opened by the operation justdescribed and is caused to close by moving the handle 49 to the left ofthe position shown in Fig. 2 which permits the spring to seat the valve.The result of movthe line 26 'and by reason of the condensation in theinjector draws the water from the tank 23 anl continues to discharge itas hot water throtgh'the nozzles of the header 25 into and about thebottles rinsing the same. This rinsing operation will continue ing thecase of bottles into the hood'13 and I until the operator places 'a newbottle case I over'the washing header 16 by which act'the valve 29heretofore mentioned is' c1osed.'-

The closing of this valve 29 shuts off the supireply of water to theejector by closing the outlet to the tank 23 and steam will then flowthrough the header 25 into the bottles and will continue to flow untilthe case over the sterilizing header is removed by the operator takingthe case ejecting handle 49 and moving the same to the left of Fig. 2which closes the steam line. This operation is then repeated for as manycases as it is desired to wash and sterilize.

The hinged cover 3 is preferably provided with an aperture 60 and as theoperator in bringing a new case to the deviceto be washed discovers abottle that is more than usually encrusted with dirt or dried milk hetakes this bottle out of the case and drops it through aperture 60. intothe washing solution to remain for a period of time until thedriedmatter becomes softened. Several such bottles are then placed in acase and put through the washing and sterilizing operation. The cover 3is preferably hinged as stated, and this enables the operator to raisethe cover and place an entire case of bottles in the washing solution ifhe so desires or to even wash a milk can or for other convenient ornecessary purposes By this arrangement of parts the washing solutiontank is available for any of the ordinary purposes arising in a dairyand when the cover is in position over the washing solution tank itprovides a convenient table on which'toiplace the bottle cases and toenable them to be readily, moved from one header member to the other.For this purpose we preferably provide what we have termed a track 61 atthe rear side of the cover practically in alignment with the angle bars10 and 12 for the-oppositely disposed hoods.

Thus, the case upon being'partially ejected by either one of the levers42 or 49 may be withdrawn from one and guided across, the table by thetrack 61 into the other.

A feature and object of this invention becomes apparent from a previousdescription-that is, that the rinsing water, after the machine has beenoperated a time or two, becomes heated and does not lose its heat to anappreciable degree between operations of the sterilizing headers.Therefore, by providing a reservoir to receive the water discharged intothe bottles, the heated rinse water is retained and is returned againand again as the device is operated through the header to the bottles.In order to efiectually draw hot water from the tank 23 by means ofthesteam ejector described, means must be provided to cool the ejectorbetween operations which is secured byprovision of the tube'33' whichdischarges into the outlet of the tank leading to the ejector. Aspreviously stated, cold water continues to flow in smallvolume per unitof time into the outlet line 28 and, when the valve" 29' is closed, thiswater discharged through the stated to cause the washing,

pipe 33 will cause the water of the tank 23 to overflow through the'pipe line 24. Thus this continual flow of cold water has a doublepurpose-that is, it replenishes the rinse water approximately as rapidlyas it becomes opening of the steam valve through the introduction ofanew case of bottles in the hood 14, the condensation of steam will berapid in the ejector with consequent high efliciency in withdrawal ofthe hot water from the tank 23. Due to this water being 'ofhightemperature which we find in practice to be approximately 180 degreesF., it attains a much higher degree of heat through introduction ofsteam thereinto than would be the-case if fresh cold water be supp-liedwith the steam to the sterilizing head in quantity sufficient to providea rinsing bath.

From this foregoing description it is evident that the device is quiteinexpensive in construction; is not cumbersome in form beingcomparatively'light in weight when not filled with the wash water and isvery convenient in operation and, as above described, is practicallyautomatic in character reducing the labor cost of handling the bottlesin that the pperator only has to move the bottles into the respectivehoods in the sequence rinsing and sterilizing operations to take placein sequence' automatically as'the cases arepositioned for the operation.

Having thus fully described our invention,

its utility and mode of operation, what we a claim and desire tosecure-by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In apparatus of thecharacterdescribed,

a header having a plurality of nozzles, a support for a bottle casethereabove, an'open ended hood into which a case of bottles may beintroduced, a steam line connected with the said header, a valve in thesteam line, a tank enclosing the header, said tank being provided ,withan overflow whereby it may contain only a limited volume of water, a

. closing of the valve of the discharge conduit causes the water tocease to flow and steam only is discharged into and about the bottles,

and means for ejecting the case from position over the sterilizingheader and simultaneously" closing the steam valve.

2. In apparatus of the character described,

header thereby causing the rinse water and steam to dischar e throughthe header to the bottles, means for ejecting the bottle case fromposition over the washing solution a header through which washingsolution header and simultaneously closing the valve may be'discharged,a header through which\ of the outlet l1ne thereby causing cessationsteam and hot water may be discharged, a water supply therefor, a valvecontrolling the flow of water, a supporting means for acase of bottlesover each header, means actuated by the positioning of a bottle caseover the washing solution header to open the valve controlling flow ofwater to'the sterilizing header, a steam line for said header, a valvefor the steam line, means actuated by the ositioning of a case ofbottles over the steri izing header to open the steam valve sterilizingheader, means and cause steam to flow and force the water into theheader, means for closing the water controlling valve actuated byremoval of the bottle case from position over the. washing solutionheader, and means for ejecting the case of bottles from position overthe sterilizing header and simultaneously closing the steam valve.

3. .In apparatus of the character described, a washing solution headerand a rinsing and for supporting a bottle case over each of saidheaders, means for supplying washing solution to the for the tank headertherefor, means for supplying rinsing water and steam to the sterilizingheader,

a valve controlling flow of water, a valve for controlling flow ofsteam, said mechanism actuated by the positioning of the bottle cases insequence over the respective headers operating to open the valves andcause discharge of steam and water through the sterilizing header and byremoval of the-bottle case from position over the washing header toclose the water controlling-valve and cause cessation of flow of waterto the sterilizing header while permitting steam to flow therethrough,and means operated by removal of the bottle case'from position over thesterilizing headers to close the steam valveand cause cessation of flowof steam.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a washing solution headeranda rinsing and sterilizing header, a tank for washing solu tion, meansfor discharging the solution through the Washing solution header, a'support for a bottle case over each of the said headers, a tank forrinse Water in which the water discharged through the steriIiZing-header,

header accumulates, a steam line for the sterilizing header; an ejectorin said steam line, an outlet line for the rinse. water tank discharginginto the ejector, a valve in the said outlet line and a valve in thesteam line, means whereby the valve in said outlet line is opened byintroduction ofa bottle case a over the washing solution header, meanswhereby the steam line valve is opene d by positioning a bottle caseover the sterilizing the of flow of water to the ejector and permittingsteam only to flow therethrough, and

means for ejecting the bottle case over the sterilizing header andsimultaneously closing the steam valve.

5. In apparatus of the character described,-a washing solution tank, aheader for washing solution at one end of the tank and a sterilizingheader at the opposite end hood over each of said headers,

of the tank, a means for supporting a bottle case in each hood,apparatus for withdrawing washing solution from the tank and dischargingit through the washing solution header into 15 and a out bottles in thesaid hood thereover, a receptacle for receiving the washing solutiondischarged from the header draining to the washing solution tank, arinse water tank in which the sterilizing header is 'posi-' tioned, saidrinse water tank having an overflow whereby it may contain a definitevolume of water, the said header, an ejector therein, an outletconnected with the ejector, means for supplying a limited quantity ofcold water to the outlet line of the tank, a valve in the said outletlinemeans whereby the said valve is opened thro duction of a bottle caseover the washing solution header,

a steam pipe discharging to gh the intro- 7 scribed, a Washing solutiontank, a header for washing solution at one end of the tank,

the tank, a hood over each of t c said headers having, an open endtoward the tank, a cover for the tank providing a table between thehoods for transferring bottle cases from one hood to the other, meansfor su-p lying washing solution to the washing so ution means forsupplying hot rinsing water and steam and then steam only to the asterilizing header at the opplosite end of sterilizing header, saidmeans comprising a steam 'line for the sterilizing ejector in the line,a tank about the said header arranged to contain a limited quantity ofwater, an outlet line for the tank discharging into the ejector, avalvein the said outlet line,

washlng solution header, means whereby the header, an 4 means foropening the, valve by positioning of a bottle case over the] positioningof a bottle case over the sterilizing header opens the steam valveforcing the rinsing water and steam through the header into and aboutthe bottles, means for eject ing a bottle case from position over thewashing solution'header and simultaneously closing the valve of the tankoutlet ofthe sterilizing header thereby causing cessation,

of flow of water to the ejector and permitting steam only to flowthrough the header, and means for ejecting a bottle case from positionover the sterilizing header and simultaneously closing the steam valve.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a washing solution tank, aheader for washing solution at one end of'the tank and a rinse water andsterilizing header at the opposite end ofthe tank, a hood over each ofsaid headers, means for supporting a case of bottles in each header, acover for the washing solution tank providing a table between the hoods,said hoods each having an open end facing the table, apparatusfordischarging washing solution through the header therefor, and means forsupplying rinsing water and steam in sequence through the sterilizingheader and into and about the bottles supported thereabove, said meansbeing controlled through introduction and removal of the bottle casesinto and from the respective hoods.

8. In apparatus of the character ,described, a washin solution header, asterilizing header for discharging) hot rinse water and steamin.,sequence to ottles or similar receptacles comprising a tank aboutthe header arranged to contain a lirmtedquantity of water, a steam lineconnected with the header, an ejector in the stem line, an outletconduit for the tank discharging into the ejector, a valve in the saidoutlet conduit, actuating means therefor controlled by the positioningof a bottle case over and removal from the washing solution header acold water supply line discharging into the sald outlet conduit abovethe valve and arranged to provide a continual flow of cold water in alimited quantity whereby on the opening of the valve the cold waterflows to and about the ejector cooling the same, and a steam valve inthe said steam line, the arrangement of the parts providing that theopening of the steam valve'while'the valve of the tank outlet is opencauses steam and water to be discharged as hot water through the headerto fall into the tank and further providing that, on the closing of thevalve of the tank outlet, steam only is discharged thru the sterilizingheader.

95 Means for rinsin ceptacles which comprises a and, sterilizing re--header, means for supporting the receptacle thereon, the

header having discharge apertures through which'hot rinse water andsteam may be mtroduced into and about the receptacle, a

tank about the header adapted to receive the discharged rinse water,meansdetermining the volume of water retained in the. tank, a steam lineby which steam may be introduced to the header and into and about thereceptacle thereabove, an ejector in the said steam line, an outlet forthe tank discharging into the-ejector,a valve for opening or closing thesaidoutlct, means for continuously discharging cold water in smallquantity into the tank outlet whereby on the opening of the valvetherein cold Water flows into the ejector, avalve in the steam line, theparts operating upon the opening of said steam line valve to cause steamto flow through the ejector and simultaneously draw water from the saidtank and continuing to discharge the said water and steam through theheader into and about the receptacle and by closing the valve in thetank outlet steam only is discharged through the header and into andabout the receptacle. e

10. In apparatus of the character described, a washing solution tank, awashing solution header at one end thereof, a sterilizing header at theopposite end thereof, a hood over each of the said headers, said hoodseach having an open end facing the tank, means for supporting a case ofbottles over each of the said headers, a guide means extending over thetop of the said tank providing a way for transfer of'bottle cases fromone hood to the other, means for discharging washing solution throughthe header therefor to and about the bottles supported thereabove, meansfor discharging hot rinse water and then steam through the sterilizingheader and into and about the bottles supported thereabove, and controlapparatus for said last named means operated by introduction and removalof the bottle cases into the hoods in succession.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a washing solution tank, aheader for washing solution at one end thereof, a header for rinse waterand steam at the opposite end, a hood over each header, said hoodshaving open ends in opposed relation facing the tank, and means on aplane with the upper surface of the tank for supporting bot-tle cases inthe said hoods, a guideway across the top of the tank in continuation ofthe said bottle can supporting means whereby bottle cases may betransferred from one hood to the 6ther across the washing solution tank,m eans for discharging washing solution through the "header providedtherefor, and means for discharging hot rinse water and steam insuccession through the other header.

12. In apparatus of 'the character described, a washing solution header,a sterilizing header, means for supplying washing solution to theheader, means for supplying water and for supplying steam to thesterilizing header, a support for abottle case over each of the headers,a valve for controlling the Water supply for the sterilizing header, a

valve for controlling the flow of steam, operating means for the Watercontrolling valve actuated torespectively open and close the valve bythe positioningof a, bottle case over and removal from the Washingsolution header, means actuated by positioning 10 of a case over andremoval from the sterilizing header to respectively open and close thesteam valve, and a receptacle for holding a predetermined volume ofwater to bedischarged to the sterilizing header through opening of bothwater supply and the steam line valves.

In testimony whereof we sign this specification.

JOHN W. LADD. CARL 0. JORDAN.

